The Fruit of the Holy Spirit- Gentleness

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22,23.

Gentleness:

Gentleness is kindness- is love's service- doing little things that encourage, reinforce and support.
Read: Gal.5:22; 1Cor.13:4; 2Cor.10:1; 1Thess.2:7; 2Tim.2:24; Tit.3:2; Ja.3:17; Eph.4:132; Col.3:12; 2Sam.22:36; Ps.18:35, 40:11, 42:3.

Why we need to be gentle or kind?
1.God is kind: Ps.31:21, 18:35,;Is.54:8;Neh.9:17; Is.54:10.
2.Christ demonstrated kindness:-Is.40:11,42:3; 2Cor.10:1; Matt.11:29.
-in touching lepers & healing them,
-in His dealings with people-fed them, taught them.
-in His treatment of children-blessed them, gave life the dead girl.
-in the Samaritan story, in the 'lost sheep' parable.
3.The Old Testament saints diplayed it:-
-David towards Saul-2Sa.2:5-6,
-Joseph towards his brothers-Gen.50:21.
4. Paul showed example in his life:- 1Thess.2:7;Ac.20:19-20;2Tim.2:24.
-as a nurse, sensitive, careful, soft, affectionate and tenderly.
5.Believers exhorted to be kind to one another:-
Eph.4:32;col.3:12;Tit.3:2;Jam.3:17;2Pet.1:7.

How to express gentleness or kindness in the practical ways:-
1.By speaking kindly(not roughly, rashly or hurtingly):Gen.50:21;2Chron.10:7.
2.By being faithful & trust worthy: Ruth 3:10.
3.By helping in social/physical welfare: 2Sam.2:5-6.
4.By not repaying evil nor being ungrateful:Lk.6:35.
5.By behaving wisely in word & deed: Prov.31:26;Ja.3:17.
6.By correcting the wrongdoer: Ps.141:5.
7.By not striving(quarrelling)-being softhearted:2Tim.2:24; Tit.3:2.
-(not speaking evil of anyone).
*Gentleness is not sentimental, but of outgoing service, even in small ways, doing little things.

"The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." James 3:17.

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